New Rat Rack

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Originally Posted by SnakeySnakeSnake

...cleaning 8 breeder tubs vs cleaning these 2 cages with a shop vac, this rack I would say is a bit less work, and when the rats cooperate, it beats having to transfer them around.

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Good point on the transferring thing! Hmmm... how to fit a couple of these into an already crowded shed :hmm: ......

-Evan

This is for breeding only for me. When the rats get fat, they are swapped out into individual or shared maternity tubs, and new rats are swapped in.

This would also work for growout, and if you put aluminum flashing around the bottom edge should work for pinks too (unless the mothers really try hard to push them out).

I used 1/2" hw cloth for the sides, but you could use smaller to keep pinks in if needed.

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Originally Posted by Evan Jamison

Good point on the transferring thing! Hmmm... how to fit a couple of these into an already crowded shed :hmm: ......

-Evan

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Time to build a second story

I hadn't even thought about the pinks getting out. I meant for the vacuuming, but either way putting them in new containers fixes it.

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Originally Posted by piranhaking

I hadn't even thought about the pinks getting out. I meant for the vacuuming, but either way putting them in new containers fixes it.

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Yeah for vaccuuming pinks could be tricky :) especially the ones that get seperated and hide in the bedding

Bryan,


W/all the breeders in a large communal cage, are U concerned w/sires of which litters???

What's your ratio in that one picture? I'm getting to the point where the First Home cages don't work any more, and I need grow out tubs, but our garage is too cold. I like your latest design and am VERY interested on how it works for you.

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Originally Posted by sweety314

Bryan,


W/all the breeders in a large communal cage, are U concerned w/sires of which litters???

What's your ratio in that one picture? I'm getting to the point where the First Home cages don't work any more, and I need grow out tubs, but our garage is too cold. I like your latest design and am VERY interested on how it works for you.

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I am growing right now. As far as keeping track of sires, I will be organizing them soon in order to do so. I plan on having 3 large colonies, and when bringing in new females I will cross colonies to ensure I don't imbreed, as well as adding several new studs from outside my lines.

1 to 10 ratio. I used to do 1 to 6 up to 1 to 8, but decided to up it a little bit... This is what the other two large breeders in my area do and I decided to give it a shot. If not I will toss in another rat and bring it back to 1 to 8 (this has worked almost too well ;), but based on their endowment that shouldnt be surprising : )

Another idea for the bottom. My friend used wire for the bottoms of his growing up racks. Than had a metal shop make large metal pans like for a rabbit hutch. Fills that with shavings and it is set. The rats don't seem to mind the wire.

Also how big are those tubs you were using the look really large. Thanks todd

Looks good, let me know how that works out for you. I might be interested in making some grow-out tubs like those. The only thing I would be worried about in those are the melamine bottoms.

How is your auto-watering system working out for you? Any problems with it yet?


:rockon:

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Originally Posted by Wild Bill

Looks good, let me know how that works out for you. I might be interested in making some grow-out tubs like those. The only thing I would be worried about in those are the melamine bottoms.

How is your auto-watering system working out for you? Any problems with it yet?


:rockon:

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Nope none. like 3 or 4 leaks but those were my fault for not cleaning the hoses. No floods.

I built it so that I could pull out the rats, take out 12 screws, remove melamine, put new melamine in ($4), and screw it back together. But we will see how durable it is after a few weeks - months.